Walter Henry Lane (27 May 1935 - 12 Feb 2021)

In Memoriam Walter Henry Lane

March 19th is the Feast of Saint Joseph, the father to Jesus of Nazareth and the patron saint of all Fathers in the Catholic Church; How fitting that you would have your Dad’s funeral celebration on this day. Saint Joseph was deeply unassuming and always performed acts of generosity and kindness, which directly reflects your Dad.

Walter was a delightful man and it sounds like he maintained that beautiful persona to the end. When Chalmers and I think of Walter he is always wearing a broad engaging smile. You could feel his warmth without him saying a word. But then when he spoke, he made you comfortable and he made us all laugh; he had it all!

It warms our hearts to know that Walter was surrounded by his dear family and he passed as he had lived, as Suzanne said; “he unfailingly remained upbeat, witty and super positive."

I will keep him (and Sheila) in my prayers, as I will for Suzanne, Stewart, Giles, Eloise, Ross, Clara, Alice, Ben, Axelle and all the Lane Family.

We are grateful and honored to have had the pleasure to know this kind, generous, and gentle person with a great sense of humanity and always a true English gentleman. Your Pop made the world a better place, but for now, I fear "There is a hole in the world tonight..."

With our heartfelt sympathy and all our love,
Nancy and Chalmers
Fama-Clark

MY BROTHER

Walter was born on 27th May 1935 I believe at University College Hospital London. He first lived 693 Lordship Lane, Wood Green then moved to 4 Fife Road Wood Green there was only 5 houses in the road. Our mother died when he was around four and I was 18 months old and her sister (Madeline) and their father (Henri) moved in and looked after Walter and I. She was the mainstay of the family, washing, ironing, cooking and generally looking after us all. Walter slept in the main bedroom with Dad, our Grandfather had the small room which Walter went into after Grandfather died and I slept in the other room with Auntie.

During the war years Auntie was considered an ‘alien’ as the family didn’t take British Nationality so if we went with her anywhere she could be stopped and asked to show her papers. All seems very strange now.

Auntie stayed looking after us even after Dad remarried when Walter was 12. She used to attend most events which took place at Senior School including Sports Day. She stayed with Dad and our stepmother when they moved to North Walsham and Potter Heigham until her death in 1985. If it hadn’t been for Auntie I do not think our Dad would have been able to look after a 4year old and an 18month old baby which would have meant one or both of us going into a Children’s Home. Auntie gave up her job to look after us, not easy her being a spinster and not being used to children also having lost her sister.

He went to Lordship Lane Junior and Infants School. Having passed his 11+ he went on to Glendale Grammar School until he was 16 when he left for a job in London where he trained as a Quantity Surveyor. He was called up when he was 18 and served 2 years National Service, some in Germany. He belonged to the CTC (Cyclist Touring Club) and they rode far and wide. He was 21 when he married Sheila in 1956. They lived at Wainscott, Strood, Kent where they brought up Suzanne and Stewart. They later moved to the Dutch Village in Surrey where Giles was born. They then moved to Tepestede. Hooley and finally to Eglinton, Merstham.


He and I spent many holidays with friends of our Dad – we went with Auntie to Shrewsbury staying in Baystone Hill. I believe we went there around October 1940 and back January 1941. Walter went to school there for a short while and his job first of all in the morning was to collect water from the stand pipe. We also went to Scotland and Whitstable. Auntie took us both to stay with friends on a farm at Morton Pinkney. Walter also used to go out with Dad when he was visiting sick employees as a Union Rep.

Walter was a very caring brother and we got on and played together very well. We used to look forward about once a month to a couple of ‘Aunties’ visiting who always brought us sweets. One was the mother of a very good friend of our Dad and the other was her sister.

We used to meet up with Walter & Sheila for lunch periodically and still did after Sheila had gone, usually for a pub lunch. We spent many happy hours in his garden when our relations from Canada came over.

I do remember when they were early married four of us going out on our bikes and meeting up with June & Ron.

Friday 12th February, I lost my wonderful Grandad Pop. A absolute Gentleman, always dressed dapper even if there was nowhere to go, he absolutely loved his garden and especially proud of his homegrown tomatoes and runner beans. He loved excellent wines and fine dining. He had the most wonderful sense of humour and would have everyone howling with laughter. Especially my mum who shared the same sense of humour. He loved his motorcars, and we used to laugh together about Mr Toad from the wind and the willows with his shared love of cars. Poop-Poop!


He was a very adventurous person and found true love with my Granny when he was 16, he loved life and always strived to make the most out of it. He was extremely knowledgeable and intelligent, he loved to read and learn. I was so blessed and lucky to have had him for a Grandfather.